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EMT vs EMR Certification

From time to time we receive calls from perspective students asking which class I should take. The answer truly depends on what you wish to do with your emergency medical services training. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) are both critical components of the emergency medical services system. They are often the first to respond during a medical emergency, providing immediate care to patients. However, while they may seem similar, there are distinct differences between EMTs and EMRs, especially in Minnesota (MN). Here we will delve into these differences and provide an overview of the MN EMT certification process.

 

Understanding Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)

In Minnesota, an Emergency Medical Technician is a healthcare professional trained to provide pre-hospital emergency medical services. They have more extensive training than EMRs and can perform more advanced procedures.

 

EMTs are skilled in assessing patients’ conditions, managing respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies, administering appropriate emergency care and transporting patients safely. They can also administer medications orally or intravenously under certain circumstances.

 

To become an EMT in Minnesota, one must complete a state-approved EMT course that includes both classroom instruction and clinical experience. After completing the course successfully, candidates must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam to obtain their MN EMT certification.

 

The Role of Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs)

Emergency Medical Responders in Minnesota are individuals who have been trained to provide initial stabilizing care at the scene of an emergency while waiting for additional EMS resources to arrive. Their role is primarily focused on immediate life-saving interventions such as CPR or controlling bleeding.

 

The training for EMRs is less comprehensive than that for EMTs. It typically includes basic first aid skills, patient assessment techniques, and instruction on how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Unlike EMTs, EMRs cannot transport patients or administer medications.

 

MN EMT Certification: The Process

Obtaining your MN EMT certification involves several steps:

 

1. Complete an Approved Course: The first step towards becoming an EMT in Minnesota is completing a state-approved course that provides both theoretical knowledge and practical skills training. Mid-Minnesota EMS Education is approved by the MN EMSRB as an EMT education program provider.

 

2. Pass the NREMT Exam: After successfully completing your course, you will need to pass the NREMT exam which consists of two parts – a cognitive exam testing your theoretical knowledge and a psychomotor exam evaluating your practical skills.

 

3. Apply for State Certification: Once you pass the NREMT exam, you can apply for state certification through the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB). You will need to submit proof of your education and NREMT certification along with your application.

 

4. Maintain Your Certification: To keep your MN EMT certification valid; you must complete continuing education requirements every two years and recertify with EMSRB and the NREMT every two years as well.

 

Conclusion

While both EMRs and EMTs play crucial roles in responding to emergencies in Minnesota, there are clear distinctions between them regarding their responsibilities and level of training required. If you’re considering a career in this field, understanding these differences can help you decide which path is right for you.

 

Remember that becoming an EMT involves rigorous training followed by passing a national examination before obtaining your MN EMT certification from EMSRB. Despite its challenges, many find it rewarding due to its potential impact on saving lives during emergencies.

 

Whether you choose to become an EMR or pursue MN EMT certification depends on your career goals and commitment level towards this demanding but fulfilling profession. Which ever program you wish to pursue, Mid-Minnesota EMS Education can help you to attain your certification goal.

Watching the Needle!

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It is 2 AM and you find yourself in a ditch trying to obtain a blood pressure on the driver who is pinned in the vehicle. You are good at getting blood pressures, but with all the noise happening as the tools are working to disentangle your patient from the car you can not hear anything. You remember someone once telling you that when you cannot hear the sounds of the beating through your stethoscope that you can get your numbers by watching the needle bounce. When it starts bouncing you have your systolic and when it stops you have the diastolic. You give it a try and come up with 116/62. Is this accurate?

 

Obtaining accurate vital signs is a basic skill for pre-hospital care practitioners. Students spend countless hours practicing obtaining pulse and respiratory rates, as well as obtaining manual auscultated and palpated blood pressures. While the generally accepted method of obtaining a manual blood pressure is to listen (auscultate) the sounds of the blood pressure, it is also acceptable to obtain a systolic pressure by means of palpation when it is difficult or impossible to hear. There is another method that some practitioners have used where they watch the bounce of the needle to determine the systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic is when the bouncing starts and diastolic is when i stops. This method leads to inaccurate blood pressures and should be avoided.  In an article published in the International Journal of Exercise Science, this method was compared with auscultation and it was discovered the systolic can be as inaccurate as nearly 15 mmHg. (1)  This amount of disparity can be significant especially in the hypotensive patient. In the face of significant noise, palpation will be a far better method of obtaining at least an accurate systolic blood pressure. If a practitioner does elect to watch the needle bounce, it is imperative the pressure obtained be evaluated again using auscultation or palpation to validate the initial readings.

 

Information on the study can be found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6355120/

  1. Trigg, S. A., Abreu, D., Bitton-Foronda, B., Foley, F. C., & Gibson, A. L. (2019). Comparison of Systolic Blood Pressure Measurements by Auscultation and Visual Manometer Needle Jump. International journal of exercise science, 12(2), 214–220.

 

It’s Getting Warm Out There!

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Temperatures are on the rise! It will soon be 90 with significant humidity. This can lead to “feels like” temperatures in the mid to high 90’s! Hot and sticky for sure. When the heat index creeps above 90 F, we are likely to see heat stress illness.

 

Early heat stress can be characterized as mild dehydration, sometimes referred to as heat exhaustion. In the hot weather and while exerting energy we use the fluids in our body in an effort to keep cool. We can loose a significant amount of those fluids leading to dehydration. One of the earliest symptoms reported by many dehydrated individuals is a headache. It often begins mild and gets progressively worse. As this happens the individual tends to become nauseated. Skin color can become pale and the skin may be damp. Skin temperature may be warm or cool, and the individual may actually complain of getting chills.

 

Individuals showing these signs and symptoms should be moved to a cooler area and any restrictive clothing removed. Oral rehydration should be attempted. Begin with small sips of water, especially if the individual is nauseated as gulping or chugging of water might cause vomiting. When providing oral rehydration, limit fluid to no more than one liter an hour. Excessive amounts of fluid in the stomach can actually slow down the emptying of the stomach and delay the absorption of the fluid.

 

Heat stroke is the most serious of the heat stress illnesses. This condition occurs when the compensation mechanisms of the body fail to maintain normal body temperature. The core body temperature can rise to between 104 to 107 F. Body temperature this high can cause damage to multiple organs including the brain. Other signs and symptoms may be similar to those of heat exhaustion. The main difference being that the individual with heat stroke usually will have an altered mental status such as delirium, confusion or even unresponsiveness. The individual experiencing heat stroke may also have a seizure. Many first aid manuals teach that the classic heat stroke patient will have red, hot, and dry skin which may not necessarily be the case. The classic red/hot/dry skin presentation is common with environmental heat stress. However, it is not unusual to see individuals suffering from exertional heat stress to present with pale, hot, wet skin.

 

Heat stroke is a potentially fatal medical emergency and must be treated promptly. Quick cooling is key to initial survival. Bring down the body temperature to around 101 F as quickly as possible. Cool water immersion is very effective. Water will take heat away from the body 25 to 30 times faster than air at the same temperature through a combination of conduction and convection. If cool water immersion is used, it is vital the victims airway and breathing is monitored and the patient’s head not be immersed as this becomes a drowning hazard. Other methods of cooling include spraying the individual with cool water along with fanning air across their body. Cool packs can be placed in junctional areas such as the groin and axilla and along the neck. Extremely cold and ice water should be avoided as it could stimulate vasoconstriction of the blood vessels of the skin causing retention of body heat.

 

It is important to watch for signs of heat stress and to remember that heat stress illness is not necessarily a continuum. It is possible for an individual who has been exerting a lot of energy to go straight to heat stroke without passing through early signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Stay cool, watch for signs of heat stress illness and be ready to act!

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Mid-Minnesota EMS Education’s mission is to provide high quality first aid, CPR and emergency medical services instruction. This not only includes the traditional classroom setting, but also some postings from time to time to help remind students, clients and the public about various facets of emergency care. We are always interested in hearing what you, our audience, wants in the way of informational nuggets. Drop us a line if you have a specific topic for which you would like to see a posting.